It is quite easy and understandable to be caught up in the fast pace and stress of our 21st century culture and miss the importance of how greatly flowers can positively affect our lives in many almost metaphysical ways.

Ancient cultures certainly recognized the phenomena involving the connections between human experience and flowers, which explains the consistent presence of flowers at important societal ceremonies, such as births, marriages and funerals.

Bouquet of White Roses With Yellow Calla Lilies | Image: PhotoRack

Besides the symbolism flowers represent (the German philosopher Goethe claimed that when he looked at a flower with the naked eye, he could instinctively experience our whole cycle of existence), as well as the “meanings” associated with individual flower varieties or colors, there is certainly much more. Flowers truly do touch us profoundly and mysteriously.

Flowers, Feng Shui and Positive Welfare

Flowers help us achieve improved health, happiness and productivity. For instance, for those who practice Feng Shui, flowers help balance the energy between natural and manmade objects that is central to Feng Shui.

Rose Bridal Bouquet | Image: Magnus Rosendahl

Drawing from science, several universities have released similar studies finding solid links between flowers and human health, happiness and workplace productivity, confirming what many have observed intuitively — and seeming to verify what ancient cultures have emphasized for thousands of years.

For example, Rutgers University’s study revealed “the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed,” according to Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, professor of research at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. “What’s most exciting about this study is that it challenges established scientific beliefs about how people can manage their day-to-day moods in a healthy and natural way,” explained Haviland-Jones.

Could it be science is finally catching up to this power that flowers possess, much like the medical field has come to accept acupuncture as a viable, mainstream solution to a wide range of human health problems?

Real-Life Affirmation

You don’t have to convince Dianne Morgado, Morgado Nursery (Keaau, Hawaii). Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and having left a career in banking and finance behind, Morgado was invited to help a friend with an orchid-growing operation he was starting up. Stressed out, feeling down and without much self-confidence, Morgado discovered that growing and just being around orchids was a “life-affirming and life-changing” experience.

She was so taken by the experience that she decided to start her own orchid farm in 2002. Today, it has three greenhouses and is still growing. Not surprisingly, Morgado credits orchids with helping make her a cancer survivor. Listening to her speak so lovingly of orchids is much like reading the noted 19th century French author Marcel Proust, who — when thinking of the silk-and-satin texture of orchids — spoke of “the passionate longing one feels sometimes for a particular flower.”

White Wedding Bouquet | Image: PhotoRack

Flowers’ Energetic, Magnetic Attraction

What seems to be the unifying theme here with acupuncture, Feng Shui and the therapeutic and uplifting effects of flowers, is energy. Perhaps the Ancients were right and the secrets of health, happiness and productivity is the flow of energy within us, within our environment and the recognition that flowers enhance connectivity between the two.

It is fitting that the flower industry is now in the position of offering consumers a range of products, not just for their beauty and artistry, but more importantly because they provide that valuable connection and balance between the natural world and our own stressed-out world.

This makes it even more important for anyone who cares about flowers to work toward supporting a goal of providing the freshest, longest-lasting flowers that will encourage everyone to make flowers part of their daily lives.

Written by

Terry Johnson

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Terry Johnson, Horticultural Marketing Resources (Mission Viejo, Calif.), is a featured speaker, writer and consultant to the floral industry. His focus is to help build consumer demand for fresh flowers. Contact him at hortmarketing@aol.com.

Terry, Thank you for the beautifully written composition magnifying the beauty and benefits of fresh flowers. There are so many that do not appreciate the magnificance of nature but rather are critics of the impossible false perfection; duration of the flower, wishing for the perfect petal count. Each and every day beauty is all around us in every little bud, imperfect as it may be.

We can all find perfection in imperfection. My occupation involves closely examining fresh flowers for flaws and imperfections. Yet, I can still reflect on the wondrous ways flowers connect worldly imperfection with spiritual perfection. And
for those still seeking a perfect flower, I give you…..

A Single Perfect Rose

I do not offer you
A single perfect rose
But instead I offer
The idea of one.

For an ideal rose
Shall never wither
For lack of water
And shall never die
From lack of care.

The rose I give to you
Is from my mind’s eye
And my heart’s hand
And is never given lightly
But gently to a lover
Or solemnly to a friend.